Hillside Parishes Magazine
Hillside Parish MagazineJanuary 2009From Christmas and into another New Year I love the Twelve Days of Christmas – but the season rather than the song. After all the preparation and the excitement, Christmas comes - and there are twelve whole days to enjoy it. Twelve days in which we can unwrap Christmas from all the packaging in which the supermarkets and others have encouraged us to smother it. By the time Boxing Day is past we will probably have been well “fed and watered” and spent some time with family and friends. Many of us will be ready to take a break from some of our regular routines, and perhaps do something slightly different – Mel and I will try to get out and about and take one or two decent walks to blow away the cobwebs (and the calories!). Hopefully we will all find some time to experience of the Peace of Christmas, to relax a little and make the most of this special time in the year. Part of the enjoyment of Christmas is the way that the world seems to slow down - at least for a few days. We often find ourselves in more reflective mood, perhaps thinking most of those who have shared Christmas with us in the past but are not with us this year – for this is a time when separation from our loved ones, by distance or by death, is more keenly felt than usual. But, far from being negative, such thoughts can lead us to a deeper understanding of “the Word made flesh”, of the meaning of God coming to be with us in every aspect of our human experience, sharing in our sorrows as well as in our joys. These last few days of the old year are a time when we tend to take stock of things, to look back and to count our blessings, and also to looking forward to the opportunities which the New Year may bring. New beginnings are always exciting, if sometimes a little scary too, but It’s probably better to make one good New Year’s Resolution and keep it than to make lots of unrealistic ones which will be broken by the end of the first week of January. Here are two “new things” to consider for 2009. The first is a sort of New Year’s Resolution for the whole parish. These days almost every organisation has its own Mission Statement, which is an attempt to sum up what it’s about. Often they are self-congratulatory or just plain silly, but some time ago the Diocese of York came up with a statement called Living the Gospel which is more challenging (you can read it at www.dioceseofyork.org.uk /files/ adminandinfo20-1.doc). It provides a helpful framework for our journeying together, although the first paragraph, which reminds us that “We are called by Jesus Christ to announce God's Kingdom and to make disciples”, is enough for now. It would be good if we could hold these words in our hearts and in our prayers over the next few months and let them shape our lives, in church and beyond. And secondly, if you are thinking about confirmation, either for yourself or for another member of the family, there is to be a Deanery Confirmation service in May in Northallerton and preparation will take place in two Deanery-wide groups, one for adults and one for young people. If you would like further details please let me know. May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas, and may you enjoy good health and happiness in the New Year. With my prayers
The magazine of the parishes of Boltby, Borrowby, Cowesby, Felixkirk, Kepwick,
Kirby Knowle, Knayton, Leake & "The Siltons". Also circulated in
Upsall, Thirlby & Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe. |
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©Thirsk.net |
